The stability of non-conservative systems and an estimate of the domain of attraction

Abstract

The stability of mechanical systems, on which dissipative, gyroscopic, potential and positional non-conservative forces act, is investigated. The condition for asymptotic stability is obtained using the Lyapunov function and an estimate of the domain of attraction is also found in terms of the system being considered. A precessional system is also examined. It is shown that the condition for the asymptotic stability of a system is the condition of acceptability in the sense of the stability of a precessional system. The results obtained are applied to the problem of the stabilization, using external moments, of the steady motion of a balanced gyroscope in gimbals.